Pakistani Minister Engages Korean Investors Amid Project Challenges

Pak-Koria

ISLAMABAD: Korean investors have raised concerns with Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan regarding delays and issues affecting development projects in Pakistan during his visit to South Korea. Executive Director UM Sung-Yong of the EDC Operation Group at Korea Eximbank outlined the status of ongoing projects, detailing processes of approval, scrutiny, and execution. He acknowledged the efficient handling of projects…

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OGRA Notifies Adjusted RLNG Prices for January Amid Rising System Losses

OGRA

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has announced revised Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) prices for January, reflecting a slight decrease for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) and an increase for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGCL), amidst record-high system losses. Karachi-based SSGCL, serving Sindh and Balochistan, saw its system losses surge to 16.16% from 13% last month.…

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OGRA to Probe LPG Overcharging Allegations Against SNGPL

lpg

ISLAMABAD: The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has initiated an investigation into complaints of overcharging for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL). Consumer Rights Advocacy (CRA), an Islamabad-based non-profit organization, reported to OGRA that SNGPL was selling LPG cylinders at Rs3,253, exceeding the maximum notified price of Rs2,953.36 for an 11.8-kg cylinder set by…

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UK Faces Gas Shortage Amid Severe Cold Weather

Cold-Weather

London: The UK is facing a critical gas shortage, with reserves expected to last less than a week due to increased demand caused by severe cold weather. This warning was issued by Centrica, the parent company of British Gas. However, the government has assured that the country currently has sufficient gas to meet demand and is closely monitoring reserves. A…

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2024: A Historic Year as Global Warming Surpasses 1.5ºC Threshold

New-climate

As wildfires ravaged California, claiming at least 10 lives and destroying nearly 10,000 structures, scientists confirmed a grim milestone: 2024 was the first year global temperatures exceeded 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the planet’s average temperature in 2024 was 1.6ºC higher than in the 1850-1900 period, making it the warmest year…

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China becomes 2nd-largest EV battery power with 30-million-ton lithium

EV battery power

China has significantly increased its lithium reserves, positioning itself as the world’s second-largest holder of the critical metal for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy technology. According to state news agency Xinhua, China’s global lithium share has risen from 6% to 16.5%, surpassing countries like Australia, Argentina, and Bolivia. The only nation ahead of China in lithium reserves is…

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Saudi crude oil supply to China set to fall in Feb vs Jan, sources say

SINGAPORE: Saudi Arabia’s crude oil supply to China is set to decline in February from the prior month, trade sources said on Thursday, after the kingdom hiked its official selling prices to Asia for the first time in three months. State oil firm Saudi Aramco will ship about 43.5 million barrels in February to China, a tally of allocations to…

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Captive power plants: No significant progress made in talks with IMF: official

Power-Plants

ISLAMABAD: Dr Fakhre Alam Irfan, Secretary of the Power Division, has revealed that no significant progress has been made in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding an extension for the closure of Captive Power Plants (CPPs), pledged to be disconnected by January 31, 2025. In response to questions about the proposed disconnection of CPPs from the natural gas…

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Oil jumps more than 4% on concern over more sanctions on Russia

Oil price

LONDON: Oil prices rallied more than 4% on Friday to reach their highest levels since October as traders focused on potential supply disruptions from more sanctions on Russia. Brent crude futures gained $3.50, or 4.6%, to $80.42 a barrel by 1422 GMT, reaching $80 a barrel for the first time since Oct.7. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures advanced $3.57,…

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2024: Mixed Solar Energy Trends Amid Record Heat

solar-powe

While 2023 was the sunniest year of the century, 2024 presented a more complex solar energy picture despite being the second-hottest year on record. Analysis by Solcast API reveals varied irradiance trends shaped by weather patterns such as El Niño and regional droughts, decoupling global heat records from consistent solar potential. Regional Insights: Americas: Canada and Alaska faced below-average solar…

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